HighlightsAdopted by a vote of 44 in favor to 1 against (USA) and 8 abstentions, the resolution, entitled "Situation in occupied Palestine", reaffirms "the continuing and unqualified Palestinian right to self-determination, including the option of a State, and looks forward to the early fulfillment of this right." The resolution also recalls "General Assembly resolutions 181 A and B (II) of 29 November 1947 and 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, as well as all other resolutions which confirm and define the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, particularly their right to self-determination." This resolution marks the first time that such strong wording, in line with the recent EU Berlin statement, is used. The resolution also represents the first time that the issue of Palestinian self-determination is linked specifically to U.N. resolutions 181 (II) and 194 (III) and not only to U.N. Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973). The 53-member forum also adopted two other resolutions concerning Palestine, which included a resolution (31 in favor, 1 against, 21 abstentions) condemning Israel’s continued human rights violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and the second concerning Israeli settlements (50 in favor, 1 against, 2 abstentions). The focus of the conference was the current situation concerning the question of Palestine, specifically on concrete measures to be taken to alleviate the economic situation and on the ways in which African nations in particular could contribute to supporting the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and a just and lasting peace. The conference also addressed the Bethlehem 2000 Project and the means by which the international community could contribute to and participate in the events and planning. The Namibian government demonstrated its keen interest and strong support for the conference, as the delegation of the CEIRPP had the honor to be received by the President of Namibia, H.E. Dr. Sam Nujoma, and by the Prime Minister, The Right Honorable Hage Geingob. The Conference was also covered extensively by the Namibian media, including the Namibian Broadcast Corporation (NBC). Intensive discussions were carried out with the Secretariat about the need to comply with relevant resolutions adopted by U.N. bodies, in particular by the General Assembly, including the latest Decision (A/53/L.65) adopted in this regard. That decision requested use of "the term Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, when appropriate, in accordance with General Assembly resolutions..." This issue was brought to prominence again in connection with a recent draft of a statistical paper to be issued by the U.N. Statistics Division that did not reflect compliance with the proper terminology. Following discussions, the Secretariat conveyed assurances to Palestine that the term Occupied Palestinian Territory would be used in the document to be issued by the Statistics Division as well as in all future documents and publications of the U.N. |